A (followup) message from NRC regarding City budget

Since our founding as an advisory board working with the City of South Bend in 1993, NRC has always been passionate about helping South Bend neighbors build better neighborhoods.

In our email yesterday, you saw that passion. A little too much, perhaps.

Though we became an independent nonprofit in 2009, we have always enjoyed – and look forward to continuing – a strong relationship with the City of South Bend. We share the mutual goal of increasing the quality of life for all who live here.

NRC is also appreciative of the support that the City of South Bend has consistently provided to NRC over the years, both financial and otherwise. NRC is especially grateful to the City for the four-fold increase in support given to NRC for 2018, a boost that has empowered NRC to accomplish more in the past several months than in the past few years.

So if the tone of yesterday’s email suggested that NRC felt otherwise about that relationship, that wasn’t our intent – and we apologize.

Notwithstanding that relationship, NRC remains committed to our ultimate mission: helping neighbors build better neighborhoods. The intent of yesterday’s email was to ask those who see NRC’s positive impact on neighborhoods and believe the continuation of that work is important to share their opinions with City leaders.

We understand that Tuesday’s budget presentation is tightly timed. The main goal is to allow the department heads time to present and clarify their budget to the Council, making the opportunity for public input limited.

We thank all who have responded so rapidly in support of the work of NRC. Rather than renew our call for in-person support on Tuesday, we instead ask that those who wish to share their opinions do so by submitting written comments here, or to your Councilperson via email.

Again, thank you for your support of South Bend neighborhoods, and please keep doing what you can to make them better, from the inside and out.